MAAA set to introduce prize money for state meet

Pune, Sep 1 (UNI) The Maharashtra Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) has given a lead to the country by introducing prize money in the state meet from this year onwards.

The Maharashtra State Athletic Championship, which is a part of the Pune Festival, has received an overwhelming response as 2,100 athletes will be vying for honours which gets underway at the Shiv Chhatrapati City stadium in Mahalunge-Balewadi near Pune from September 2 to 5.

The annual meet is being split in two parts mainly due to organisational convenience with the men, women and boys and girls under 20 being clubbed together to be held on the first two days, September 2 and 3. The junior age group, boys and girls under 18, under 16 and under 14 will be held on September 4 and 5. The junior meet also serve as the selection trials to finalise the teams that will participate in the West Zone meet to be held in Pune.

Apart from the usual prizes the introduction of cash awards will certainly go a long way in motivating the athletes who will not only work harder to enhance their performances but bring laurels to the state as well, said the association vice-president advocate Abhay Chhajed.

Addressing a press conference here today Mr Chhajed, along with Bharat Deserdla, who is heading the organising committee said that the prize money would also be offered for the junior state meet and the state cross country championship as well.

The state championship this year assumes significance since it has being thrown open to the clubs in keeping with the slogan 'Go for gold' coined by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi.

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